Hypericin-loaded in modified theranostic liposome nanoplatform: a preliminary in vivo study of targeting and diagnosis.

Modified theranostic liposomes were created by combining phospholipid 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-3-glycerol-phosphatidylcholine with two previously modified Pluronic copolymers covalently linked with spermine and folic acid to carry and stabilize the photosensitizer compound hypericin. After physicochemical characterization, the photocytotoxicity was evaluated against different cancer and healthy cells presenting a strong photodynamic effect. The formulation exhibited no photoactivity without illumination and without hypericin.